Meet Our Staff

Jill M. Kinder​

Executive DirectorJanuary 2019-Current

Jill is a Fort Wayne native and graduate of Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Public and Environmental Affairs. Jill also achieved her Certified Economic Developer status from the University of Oklahoma.

Jill began her career working for Allen County Department of Planning Services in their Economic Development Division. While there she administered tax abatements and worked with new and expanding companies.

After working as an Economic Development Specialist for Allen County, Jill began a nineteen year career with the utility industry; American Electric Power and later NIPSCO. Her positions with the utility companies spanned many disciplines including economic development, community relations, public affairs and communications. These positions also allowed for a great bit of community involvement and board work.

For the last several years Jill has worked as a Business Development Manager for Michael Kinder and Sons (MKS), a fourth generation design-build firm located in Fort Wayne. There she works with new and expanding companies and manages client events.​

Jill has been deeply engaged in the Greater Fort Wayne community through a vast array of board affiliations, be they committee work or at the board level. She has served JA of Northern Indiana, the Embassy Theatre Foundation, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, the Early Childhood Alliance, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (founding board member), Wellspring, the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation, the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (Vice President), Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. and many others.

Jill was recently appointed to the Allen County Redevelopment Commission. She also serves on the board of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc and volunteers as a mentor for Youth for Christ.

Jill is married with four boys. She enjoys community service, watching her kids play sports, running and beautiful Northeast Indiana lake life in the summer.